SAN BEDA UNIVERSITY’S (SBU) Red Lions fell to Jose Rizal University (JRU), 74-67, in Game Two of the Filoil EcoOil Preseason Cup finals at the Filoil Centre in San Juan on July 23, as the Heavy Bombers completed a two-game sweep to capture their first title in the tournament’s history.
The runner-up finish marked San Beda’s deepest Filoil campaign since 2019 and served as a crucial preseason test ahead of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Season 102, where the defending champions will seek to retain their crown under host school San Beda beginning September 13 at the SM Mall of Asia (MOA) Arena.
The Red Lions finished the elimination round with a 7-2 record to secure the No. 2 seed in the NCAA bracket, powered by the arrivals of Aldous Torculas, RC Calimag, and Daniel Marcelo. Their only setbacks came against the Colegio de San Juan de Letran (CSJL) Knights, 67-63, on July 6, and eventual champion JRU, 73-65, on June 17.
San Beda opened the knockout stage with a 68-49 victory over Mapúa University (MU) Cardinals on July 8 before eliminating the reigning University Athletic Association of the Philippines (UAAP) champion De La Salle University (DLSU), 64-59, in the crossover quarterfinals two days later. Zed Etulle and Dominic Sarigumba scored 10 points apiece to lead the Red Lions past the Green Archers and into the semifinals.
Facing three-time defending Filoil champion University of the Philippines (UP) on July 19, San Beda delivered its most convincing performance of the tournament, routing the Fighting Maroons, 93-72. Calimag erupted for 27 points, Sarigumba added 17, while Torculas chipped in 14 against his former team to send the Red Lions to the championship series.
The victory came a day after the passing of former Red Lion John Vincent “JV” Gallego in a vehicular accident. Following the semifinal win, assistant coach Andre Santos said the team drew inspiration from Gallego’s memory. “We really did play for JV today,” he said.
The championship series paired two NCAA squads after JRU eliminated Letran, 82-73, in the other semifinal. The Heavy Bombers claimed Game one, 70-59, on July 21 behind 22 points from Lawrence Mangubat and 19 from Chris Hubilla, while Etulle paced San Beda with 14 points.
JRU completed the sweep with a 74-67 victory in Game Two as Mangubat scored 27 points to earn Finals Most Valuable Player (MVP) honors. Etulle again led the Red Lions with 14 points, while Torculas added 13 and Marcelo finished with 11.
Although San Beda fell short of the preseason crown, the tournament provided an early measure of a retooled squad that advanced further than any Red Lions team in the competition since 2019. The campaign also highlighted areas for improvement after the team’s four losses, all against fellow NCAA opponents, including three to eventual champion JRU.
Attention now shifts to NCAA Season 102, where the San Beda Red Lions open their title defense in a challenging “Group of Death” under Group A, featuring JRU and the De La Salle–College of Saint Benilde (CSB) Blazers. With an early rematch against the Heavy Bombers looming in group play, the Red Lions will look to translate the lessons of their preseason run into another championship campaign.